Coin-controlled game apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. G. GLAWSON.

90111 CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS.

No. 541,991. Patented July 2, 1895.

(fl/e201, 92 917 0. fi l/01 11); 801w,

v(N0 Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

0. 0. OLAWSON.

COIN CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS.

No. 541,991. Patented July-2, 1895.

WITNESSES: INVENTUR 1' W A (El/emery? G. qlq,ws,o,am,

: BY Ww A ORNIEY (No Model.) 9 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. O. O, OLAWSON.

COIN CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS. No. 541,991. Patented July 2, 1895.

WITNESSES: V INVENTOR: 6 (gums UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

CLEMENT O. CLAWSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

COIN-CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 541,991, dated July 2, 1895. Application filed April 5, 1895- Serial No. 544,531. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLEMENT O. CLAWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and has for its primary object to provide a novel form of game apparatus the mechanism of which can be put in operative working condition by the dropping of a metal or other like disk in a receiving-slot of the machine, and to this end the machine consists in the construction, arrangements, and combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Further objects of this invention are to furnish a machine which shall be simple in construction and cheap to manufacture and which shall perform the functions of serving as a very interesting game to the players.

I will first describe my machine at length and will then point out the particular features of novelty in the clauses of the claim ap pended to this specification.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel form of game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side view of the casing of the apparatus shown in its open position to clearly illustrate in side elevation the arrangement of the operating mechanism within the casing. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of part of the casing, illustrating the arrangement of a slot in the cover, a chute in connection therewith, and the operating mechanism for receiving the metal disk for releasing the working parts of the machine; and Fig. 4: is a perspective View of the chute illustrated in connection with said Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a "horizontal section of the casing, illustrating in plan view the inner mechanism of the device, the several parts of said mechanism being represented in their normally inoperative position; and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the said parts in their operated positions. Fig. 7 is a vertical crosssection taken on line 7 7 in Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 is a similar section taken on line 8 8 in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the operating-disk-directing guide on the end of the push-piece of the apparatus. tail view of a supporting-plate and guide connected therewith, a toothed ratchet-wheel used in connection with said plate being represented in plan view. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail horizontal sections of the forward end of said guide illustrated in connection with the plate shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a cross-section of a gear-wheel for operating the number-dials or index-disks of the apparatus, and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the back of one of said dials or disks. Fig. 15 is a perspective View of a rack used in connection with the apparatus.

In the several views of the drawings, A designates a suitable case, which is preferably of the shape illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, being provided with a suitable base a, having ears or lugs a, to which is hinged a suitable cover a provided with a playing-disk receiving-slot a and an opening a of any suitable contiguration,behind which is arranged a glass pane b to expose to view the number-dials or index- Fig. 10 is a dedisks 0, O", and (l of the apparatus, as will be clearly seen from said Fig. 1.

As shown more especially in Figs. 2, 7, and 8, the base a is provided on its inner surface with posts d, formed on the under side of a supporting-plate (1, said posts being provided with screwthreaded holes, whereby they can be securely fastened in position on the base a by means of screws a as clearly shown. Said plate dis provided with a suitable socket d in which is secured a post d On the upper surface of said plate are placed three other posts 61 which may be formed integral with said plate, or they may be secured thereto in any well-known manner. These posts d and d are arranged in the positions substantially as illustrated in Fig. 10. Fromone side of said plate d extends a guide-arm 01 provided Emmet with an arm (1 projecting at a right angle therefrom, forming a guide for a slide or rack e. Said slide or rack may be provided on one side with teeth e,'and has slotted openings 6 and 6 into which certain projections d and d on the posts al and d are fitted to permit a reciprocatory sliding movement of said slide or rack e on its guide, as will be understood. Said slide or rack e is provided with a projection 6 and an arm e having a slightly inwardly-projecting extension 9, which is normally beneath the operating-disk-directing guide f on the pnsh-armf, normally extending from a perforated projection or boss a 'in the side of the cover a of the apparatus, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5. Said arm d on the guide-arm d is provided with an inwardly-extending part d, and to the free end of said arm d may be secured, by means of a Figs. 11 and 12.

screw 9, a detachable piece g. Said piece g is provided with a recessed or cut-away part 9 which can be made to fit the end of said arm (i and when secured thereto, asindicated in Fig. 11, then the apparatus is adapted for use in connection with playing-disks of a small diameter; but when the piece 9 is removed and replaced on the end of said arm (1 as shown in Fig. 12, then the distance between said piece 9 and the portion d is increased over that shown in said Fig. 11, and the apparatus can be used only in connection with playing-disks of a larger diameter, those of the smaller diameter, it dropped into the apparatus, falling between these parts without operating the machine, as clearly indicated in-dotted outline in said Fig. 12.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated an arrangement of a disk-receiving chute h, secured by means of an arm h and screws to the inner side of the cover a its mouth It being arranged directly beneath the slot a in said cover and its discharge end terminating directly over the diskdirecting guide f, connected with the pusharm f, as clearly shown. When a playing-disk is deposited in the slot a in said cover, the chute h conveys said disk directly between the portions f of said gnidef, where it is held in position in front of the arm 6 on the slide or rack 8, being prevented from dropping from such position by the edges of the disk coming in contact with the sides of the projection d of the guidearin d and the piece g, secured thereto, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of This places the parts of the machine in condition to be operated by pressure applied upon the end of the pusharmf. Now when this arm is pushed in the playing-disk between the guide f and the receiving portions on the end of the slide or rack 9 acts as a connection between said parts and pushes the rack-teeth e against the teeth 1 of a ratchet-wheel t, rotatively arranged on the post d of said supporting-plate d. Rotatively arranged on the same post- 61 directly above said ratchet-wheel i, is a large gear-w heel t (see more especially Fig.13,) pro- Vided with a hub t' by means of which it is rotatively arranged on said post. To one side of said hub I have formed a small chamber 4 in which is movably arranged a small pin i havingits one end extending from a perforation in the bottom wall of said chamber to bring it in operative engagement with the ratchet-surface of said wheel i in the manner to be hereinafter fully described. Said chamber'i is provided with a removable plug,substantially as shown. Now when the slide or rack e is forced forwardly then one of the straight and ratchet-like portions of said ratchet-wheel 'i will be forced into operative engagement with the free end of said pin 2' and according to the force of the push on the push-arm f said large gear-wheel will turn with great velocity on the postcl without interfering with the return movement of the slide or rack e and the push-arm f to their normal positions after the operator has removed his or her hand from the knob on said push-arm. Said gear-wheel i being independent from said ratchet -wheel t' on said post 61 it will be seen that, owing to the construction of the uppersurface of said wheel 1', the latter can turn in the opposite direction by the action of the returning slide or rack 6, while the end of the pin i slides over the inclined surfaces of said wheelz' without interfering with the direction and the momentum of said wheel 2' As will be seen from Figs. 5, 6, and 9, the guide-piece f, connected with the end of the push-armf, has a pair of eyes or perforated lugs f to which are secured the ends of suitable springs f andf, also fastened to the sides of the casing, as shown, which cause the return of said slide or rack e, when the side of the guide f comes in contact with the projection e, and the other parts connected therewith to their initial starting positions beneath the chute to receive a second playingdisk. As soon as the pressure has been removed from the push-arm), the operating-disk previously deposited is no longer held by friction between the parts of the guide-piece f and the end of the slide or rack e, and it now drops down into the lower part of the apparatus.

As will be seen from Figs. 7 and 8, said posts d on the plate (1 are provided with suitable shoulders, and rotatively arranged thereon are the hubs c of said number-dials or indexdisks 0, O, and 0 Each disk is provided directly above the hub c with gear-teeth 0 which mesh with the teeth i of the large gearwheel i Said disks 0, G, and O are also provided with annular rims orshoulders c and holes or perforations 0 arranged as shown in Fig. 1, and on a centrally-raised portion 0 in each number dial or disk is a card or plate 0 secured thereon by means of a screw 0 or otherwise and provided with radially-arranged lines forming spaces 0 which are differently colored, and the alternating spaces being supplied with numbers, substantially IIO eter of the holes in front of each space 0 The gear-wheel t' is secured in place on the post d? by means of a washer c and screw 0 as shown. I

When the gear-wheel t has been made to rotate very rapidly on the post d in the manner hereinabove fully set forth, then said wheel causes the rapid rotation of the disks or dials O, O, and C on their supporting-posts 01 and the marbles or balls is will be forced by the great speed of said disks and the centrifugal force created against the rims or shoulders 0 and when the several parts of the mechanism have resumed their normal state of rest then said marbles or balls will have assumed different positions in the holes 0 from those held previous to the starting of the machine. I

The adaptability of the apparatus as an interesting game apparatus will be evident from the above description and the accompanying drawings, the players each taking an equal number of playing-disks to operate the machine and then keeping count of the scores made by each player, as indicated by the.

It will be seen that I have devised an ap-.

paratus on which many interesting games may be played.

Instead of making the opening a in the cover of the shape herein shown, said opening may be made small to expose but a part of either one or all of said disks 0, C, and G which can be provided with different pictures to be exposed to view.

I do not wish to limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of parts herein shown, as I am aware that the same may be varied without departing from the scope of my present invention--as, for instance, in place of three index disks or number dials, I may use more or less, and the operating mechanism is correspondingly changed.

mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a game apparatus, in combination, revolving index disks or dials having annular rims or shoulders 0 and marbles or balls loosely arranged on said disks or dials, each disk or dial havinggear teeth 0 a gear-mechanism for revolving said disks or dials, comprising therein, a toothed wheel t and gear wheel 2' and means for operating said gearmechanism, consisting essentially, of a slide or rack e, and a push-armf for operating the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a game apparatus, in combination, revolving index disks or dials, provided with gear teeth 0 a gear wheel '5 for revolving said disks or dials, a ratchet wheel 2', and a pin i on said wheel adapted to be engaged by said ratchet wheel to actuate said wheel 2' and means for operating said ratchet wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a game apparatus, in combination, revolving index disks or dials, provided with gear teeth 0 a gear wheel 1' for revolving said disks or dials, a ratchet wheel 2', and a pin 01 on said wheel 7?, and means for operating said ratchet wheel, consisting essentially, of a slide or rack e, and a push-armffor operating the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. I

5. In a game apparatus, in combination, a casing, revolving index disks or dials, having annular rims or shoulders c and marbles or balls loosely arranged on said disks or dials, each disk or dial having gear teeth 0 a gear mechanism for revolving said disks or dials, comprising therein, a toothed wheel t and gear wheel 4?, means for operating said gear-mechanism, and a chute connected with said casing for depositing a playing disk and thereby bringing said means in operative engagement with said gear-mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. v

i 6. In a game apparatus, in combination, a casing, revolving index disks or dials, having annular rims or shoulders c and marbles or ballsloosely arranged on said disks or dials, means for operating said gear-mechanism, consisting essentially, of a slide or rack e, and a push armf having a guide f, and, a chute connected with said casing for depositing a playing disk into said guide f and thereby bringing said arm fand slide or rack e in operative engagement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a game apparatus, in combination, a casing, revolving index disks or dials, provided with gear teeth 0 a gear wheel '5 for revolving said disks or dials, a ratchet Wheel 1 and a pin 2' on said wheel 7? adapted to be engaged by said ratchet wheel to actuate the wheel 7?, means for operating said ratchet wheel, and a chute connected with said casing for depositing a playing disk and thereby bringing said means in operative engagement with said. ratchet wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a game apparatus, in combination, a casing, revolving index disks or dials, provided with gear teeth 0 a gear wheel 1? for revolving said disks or dials, a ratchet wheel t and a pin 2' on said wheel 1' adapted to be engaged by said ratchet wheel to actuate said Wheel i means for operating said ratchet Wheel, consisting essentially, of a slide or rack e and a push-arm fhaving a guide f, and a chute connected with said casing for deposit ingaplayingdisk into said guidef and thereby bringing said arm f and the slide or rack in operative engagement with said ratchet wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a game apparatus, in combination,

with the index disks or dials, of mechanism for operating the same, consisting essentially, of a plate d having posts (1 andd, a ratchet Wheel 2' and gear wheel 1' on said post d said index dials or disks being rotatively arranged on said posts 01 and provided with gear teeth 0 meshing with said gear wheel 2' and means for operating said ratchet wheel, 2', substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

10. In a game apparatus, in combination, with the index disks or dials, of mechanism for operating the same, consisting essentially of a plate (1 having posts d? and d a ratchet wheel t' and gear wheel i on said post d said index dials or disks being rotatively arranged on said posts 61 and provided with gear teeth 0 meshing with said gear wheel a slide or rack e in operative engagement with said ratchet wheel, and means for operating said slide or rack, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In an apparatus of the class herein set forth, in combination, a supporting plate, having a guide-arm d an arm d thereon, a projection c1 and a pieceg on said arm (1, a slide or rack e movably arranged on said guidearm having an arm 6 and an extension c a chute terminating directly above said arm c and means for operating said slide or rack, substantially as and for the'purposes set forth.

12. In an apparatus of the class herein set forth, in combination, a supporting plate, having a guide-arm d, an arm d thereon, a projection (Z and a piece 9 on said arm 61 a slide or rack e movably arranged on said guidearm having an arm 6 and an extension e, a

chute terminating directly above said arm a and a spring actuated push-armfhaving a guide portion f, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In an apparatus of the class herein set forth, in combination, a supporting plate, having a guide-arm d an arm d thereon, a projection d and a piece g detachably connected with said arm (i a slide or rack e movably arranged on said guide-arm having an arm 6 and an extension 6 a chute terminating directly above said arm 6 and means for operating said slide or rack,- substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. The herein described game apparatus, comprising therein, a casing having an opening a and a chute, a plate (1 having posts 01 and d a ratchet Wheel 2' and gear wheel '6 on said post d index disks or dials on said posts d having gear teeth 0 meshingwith said gear wheel 2' a guide-arm d on said plate (1, having an arm at and a projection d and piece 9, a slide or rack e movably arranged on said guide-arm,having an arm (2 and extension 6 and means for operating said rack, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

15. The herein described game apparatus, comprising therein, a casing having an opening a and a chute, a plate 01 having posts d and d, a ratchet wheel 2' and gear wheel i on said post d index disks or dials onsaid post d having gear teeth 0 meshing with said gear Wheel "F, a guide-arm d on said plate d, having arms at and a projection d and piece g, a slide or rack e movably arranged on said guide-arm, having an arm 6 and extension 6 and a spring-actuated push-arm f having a v guide-portionf, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of April, 1895.

CLEMENT O. CLAWSON. lVitnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, WM. H. GAMFIELD, Jr. 

